Man Cave – Ideas? Testamonials?

[sdduuuude]

You got me thinking about this man-cave thing. I don’t really have one – just my shop in the new garage with power tools, workbench, electronix station, small TV to watch games while I build, etc.

I’m really missing the other kind – the sit/relax/drink/play/TV room. So, I think I really need 2 man-caves. One where I can build stuff and other where I can play stuff because I would get sawdust all over the pool table if they were 1 cave. My ultimate cave would really be a game room for the family.

To have it all, I would include, in order or priority: big TV with gaming console, computer station, small bar, resizable poker/game/puzzle table for 4 to 10 players, pool table or bumper pool table/foosball/shuffleboard/air hockey, drum-kit. Might include a small project table for crafts and smaller shop projects.

Navydoc’s room scores points for the big TV and dark wood but is disqualified as a man-cave due to the pillows on the couch, flowery art on the walls and the effeminate lamp. Don’t get me wrong – it’s very nice, but it’s like wearing designer jeans to a rodeo.

[Ren]

When I think of a man cave, it’s a place where a woman wouldn’t even want to go, so less a gaming/TV room (which I also want) and more a car/workshop/weight room. I only have one bay available now, where I have a squat rack and fridge, with enough room left over for my car when I need to work on it. My plans for a 3-car garage include one bay for storage, tools, workbench, fridge, sink, and small bar, another for a lift (the weekend car stored above the daily driver), and the middle bay for a couch, end tables, lamps, squat rack, and folding treadmill. A moderately-sized (42″?) flat screen would hang somewhere, maybe a neon beer sign or two, and it’s almost a requirement to have at least one barely dressed girl poster or calendar. Wifey thinks that’s incredibly tacky, which only pushes me to do it 🙂

Ideally it would be fully finished, insulated, and vented for HVAC. If money wasn’t an object, I might build in a tiny half-bath, too.

My advice is to not skimp by getting a mini-fridge, as I did. Go nearly full size – it’s hugely useful for parties.

[Navydoc]

No, you missed what I did. There is the “man” half of the basement, and then the “woman and daughter” half. The dividing line is the back of the theater recliners. I’ll have to post more pictures, right behind me in the picture of the bar is the gym, which was a storage room I drywalled myself.

Had to make it look presentable to the wife so she would come down sometimes. It is truly amazing how much time I spend down there. Some weekends I never leave the basement. You don’t really need to.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=Ren]Ideally it would be fully finished, insulated, and vented for HVAC.[/quote]

Wouldn’t that make it more likely for females to possibly enter?

Save the money on HVAC – make it hot in the Summer and freezing in the Winter and even more man-friendly.

[sdduuuude]

I bet temeculaguy has a man-cave, too.

‘cept he calls it a “house”

[Ren]

[quote=sdduuuude][quote=Ren]Ideally it would be fully finished, insulated, and vented for HVAC.[/quote]

Wouldn’t that make it more likely for females to possibly enter?
[/quote]

I was blessed with a spouse who surrendered the garage completely early on, although you may be right about the HVAC. The higher utility bill might give her a reason to complain, when I’d rather be under the radar. I’m counting on the framed St Pauli Girl poster and black leather couch to help keep her out.

[sdrealtor]

svelte
Temecula happens to be the swinger capital of the world. At least so I have been told.

[CA renter]

That’s a very cool basement, Navydoc!

[Bubblesitter]

NavyDoc,
Very nice…..Im green with envy.

ah….to have a basement. I had one in my last house back east. I think man caves are more prevalent out east. You certainly have more sq footage, I’ve seen huge finished basements before. I have an amigo with must be 2000 sq ft of basement. Most of it finished

[Bubblesitter]

NavyDoc,
Very nice…..Im green with envy.

ah….to have a basement. I had one in my last house back east. I think man caves are more prevalent out east. You certainly have more sq footage, I’ve seen huge finished basements before. I have an amigo with must be 2000 sq ft of basement. Most of it finished

[LAAFTERHOURS]

My home came with a 1 car and 2 car garage separate from one another. When we moved in, I dropped that spongy flooring in the 1 car garage, had cable wired in, mounted a 42 on the wall with a small ikea floating cabinet for the media stuff and put all the gym equipment in there. It was nice but super hot in the summer since it gets afternoon sun. Relocated all the gym equipment to the house and moved the 42 to the wall facing the street. Brought in a kegerator, dartboard and have the bikes, scooters, skateboards, baggo hanging from the ceiling and sports stuff in a bin. During football season, open the garage, turn up the stereo and watch the game from the street while keeping an eye on the young ones. Man cave? kind of but not really. More like a family cave with all the toys.

St pats day it came in handy. Dual beer pong tables and ncaa tourney going. It smelled and looked like a frat house sunday morning but nothing 2 hours of a mop and broom couldnt clean up.

[Essbee]

I probably shouldn’t post on this thread since I’m a woman, but someone recently said, “Oh, a mancave,” when I described this room. (To which I think I probably glared and replied, “No, this room will be used by both of us.”)

I am really excited about this aspect of our new house. We just closed last week, get keys today, and we are moving in next week!

Anyway, our new house has one of those garages with 2 bays, and then a separate garage with 1 bay only. The 1 bay garage is going to be our workout area. It will house an elliptical, weights, and an exercise mat/ball. And of course a flat screen on the wall. i hope the heating/cooling issues aren’t too severe, but we have had a similar setup (in a 2 bay garage, displacing the cars) for over a year and so far it hasn’t been TOO bad.

[svelte]

You’re more than welcome to post here, original poster even said man OR woman cave.

Tell you the truth, a cave without women is a cave I wouldn’t like anyway…that’s just me.

Love the basement, Navydoc! Especially the bar! That’s awesome and the next thing I’m gonna build.

Also love those of you who have decked out your garage…I did that with my last home and loved it. Haven’t gotten around to doing my new one yet. On the list, but prolly a couple years out still…

[CA renter]

Congratulations on your new home, Essbee! 🙂

[svelte]

Geez, I breezed right over the new house part.

Yes, congrats essbee! Tell us about your new abode if you feel so inclined…

[Author]

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